Not getting enough air?: Has anyone... - Asthma Community ...

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Not getting enough air?

Jemm_beth99 profile image
6 Replies

Has anyone ever experienced the feeling of 'not getting enough air'. This happens to me majority of the time, Even laying down doesn't help and is worse at night. Can anyone help me on what it is or how I can help stop it please.

( This comes on when even relaxing so I'm not even exerting myself in physical activity)

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Jemm_beth99 profile image
Jemm_beth99
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6 Replies
Wheezycat profile image
Wheezycat

Perhaps you need to check your asthma with your health provider again. I have certainly had that feeling, and i don't like it, but then i was bad, and eventually my medication was increased. Now I only experience it occasionally.

I had an asthma attack last year which landed me in hospital for a few days. Before that I had that lack of air feeling quite strongly, especially at night. Since then I still am anxious about sleeping in small rooms where I may not be able to open a window. I want volume around me, and that feeling is strong, even if I don't acutely feel that lack of air.

paula66 profile image
paula66

I get this part of my life I think now I got crossover copd / chronic atopic asthma .i find windows open wide and a good old fan does the trick xx

WheezyAnne profile image
WheezyAnne

If it is a feeling, rather than your Asthma symptoms worsening, then I can tell you what I have found to help, bearing in mind that I have lifelong Severe Asthma. It is a feeling I am familiar with. If Asthma symptoms getting worse or not coming back under control, then go see your GP.

First of all I do some slow deep breathing, the out breath longer than the in breath, as I was taught in Yoga.

I listen and concentrate on audio books to distract me from the sound of my breathing,

Do some craft work. Colouring in a nice picture, having to concentrate can soon help you relax and forget about your breathing. If not, you will still have a nice picture to look at.

Prop yourself up when in bed, on as many pillows as you can manage.

A small, quiet fan gently wafting air across your face will help your brain understand there is air out there. It does work.

Get rid of any smelly/perfume/aerosol/candles in your bedroom.

Get rid of any wool and feather products. Keep the bedroom aired. Pull your bedclothes down every morning, to air the bed as house dust mite love nice warm moist areas.

Be aware that it is normal for the breathing to be different in the early mornings, for people without Asthma as well. Hope some of this helps.

ChrissieMons profile image
ChrissieMons

I think laying down might make it worse - if I'm wheezing, I need to sit up, either in the day or in bed at night. Sitting by the window might help, but it depends what brings this on - is it physical or worry? All Wheezyanne's advice is excellent, but you should definitely disuss this with your GP as well.

Suspect1 profile image
Suspect1

I think you need to go back to your asthma nurse/clinic your asthma doesn't sound like it is controlled. Hope you feel bettet

Yes, I have had this in the past, and I still do get it occasionally.

The advice given my WheezyAnne pretty much ties up with what I do when it happens to me. The thing that makes it tough is that if you feel you are not getting enough air it's very easy to tense up (and you might not be aware that you're even doing that) - which only makes things worse. Some of the distraction ideas that WheezyAnne has suggested are a good way of helping with that.

I don't know if this is the same thing, but I do find there are times when I suddenly can't take a good deep breath of air - sometimes for no apparent reason I can think of. That's a situation when I employ some breathing exercises to help with it, or distract myself (not easy when you are aware that your breathing feels restricted). At times like that I employ a breathing technique I was taught when studying drama: breath in through the nose to a count of three and out through the mouth to a count of as many as I can.

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